Collapsible valuable-case.



PATBNTED OCT. l, 1907.

J.- E. oARRfoLL. CULLAPSIBLB VALUABLB CASE.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB. 15. 1907.

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JOI-IN E. oAEROLL, oF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

COLLAPSIBLE VALUABLE-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1, 1907.

D Application sied February 15,1907. serial No. 357,548.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that JOHN E. CARROLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washingtonfhas invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Valuable- Cases, of which the following is a specification.

ThisI invention has relation to collapsible valuable cases, and itconsists in the novel construction and arrangement of the parts as hereinafter shown and described.

The obj ect of the invention is to provide a case of the character indicated which may be applied to the wall or side of a sleeping compartment or room and which when not in use may be folded together in compact form against theside or wall of the compartment, and when in use as a receptacle for valuables and the like, may be extended in order to increase its holding capacity. l

The case consists primarily of a plate which is adapted to be secured to the supporting wall or side and to which is hinged sectional sides which form the top and bottom of the case The vertical sides of the case'are made up of two series of strips pivoted together in lazytong fashion while the outer end of the case is provided with a hinged door. The sides of the case are held in extended positions by a bolt or strip which may be slipped longitudinally across the adjacent edges of either the top or lower side of the case, consequently rendering the sections thereof rigid or fixed with relation to each other and preventing collapse of the parts of the case. 1t is also desirable to provide a means for locking the hinged end of the case, and in connection with said locking means an electrical alarm is provided which is automatically set off o1' sounded when a key is inserted in the lock of said hinged side. Inasmuch as the pivoted members of the vertical sides of the case will be spaced slightly apart when extended, curtains are mounted on spring rollers, which in turn are j ournaled within the case, and said curtains are made to follow the said vertical sides of the case when the said sides are extended, thus the curtain will conceal from view the contents of the case. The case may be applied directly to the surface of the wall or side of the sleeping compartment or may be set in the wall if desired. 1n either' instance, however, a flap is provided and which is attached to the rear end of the case and which lies over the upper edges of the vertical sides and the front of thecase, when the parts are collapsed, and in a measure conceals the parts and protects them from dust, dirt and other foreign substances.

In the accompanying drawingz-Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the case. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, collapsed, and Fig. 3 is front elevation of the same with parts broken away.

The case comprises the back or rear side 1, which may be secured to the wall or side 2 of a sleeping compartment. The top and bottom sides 3 and 4 `are hinged to the back 1; the said top and bottom sides are also hinged to the rectangular frame 5. The said top vand bottom sides 3 and 4 are made up of sections which are hinged together, as at G, and are arranged to swing within the case when the same is collapsed or closed. One of the said sides 3 or 4 (preferably the latter) is provided with a bolt or bar 7 which is slidably mounted upon one of the hinged sections of the said side and is adapted to be moved longitudinally across the hinge joint between the said sections and engage a keeper 8 provided upon' the adjacent section. Thus when the said bar or bolt is so moved, it forms a rigid member lying across the hinge joint between the section and renders it impossible for the said sections to swing upon their connecting hinges. The vertical sides of the case are made up of a series of strips 9 which are pivoted together at their ends in lazy-tong fashion. The strips 9 at one end of the said sides are pivotally connected with the back l, and at the opposite ends4 of the said sides are pivotally connected with the rectangular frame 5. The door 10 is hinged to the `frame 5 and forms the outer or front side of thecase. Said door is provided with a suitable lock 11, the bolt of which is adapted to engage a keeper provided in the frame 5. A battery 12 is located in the case or may be located adjacent the same, and a wire 13 connects one of the poles of the said battery with a magnet 14 which is provided with a hammer 15, which is adapted to strike and sound a bell 16 located preferably in the case. The wire 17 is Connected at one end with said magnet 14, while the other end of said wire is connected with the lock 11. The wire 18 connects the other pole of the battery 12 with the said lock 11. Normally, the ends of the wires 17 and 18 are spaced apart, but when a key is inserted in the lock 11 the said key forces the ends of the wires 17 and 18 together, thus closing an electric circuit and sending a current through the magnet 14, which actuates the hammer 15 to sound the bell 16. Thus at each attempt to open the door l0 by the use of a key, an audible alarm is sounded. The spring-actuated rollers 19 are journaled in the case in close proximity to the vertical sides thereof. The curtains 20 are attached to said rollers 19 and are also attached to the frame 5. The

" springs of the rollers 19 are under tension in order to automatically wind the curtains 20 upon the said rollers as slack occurs in the said curtains. The flap 21 issecured to the back 1 and lies horizontally over the upper edges of the vertical sides of the case and forms a cover for the parts when they are collapsed.

When the parts are collapsed or folded the top and bottom sides 3 and 4 are swung within the verticalhsides of the case, which movement is accomplished as a result of providing hinge connections Gjbetween the sections of the said sides 3 and 4. At the same time the strips 9 are folded in close proximity to each other, and

the parts are held in such folded position by means of a bar 22 fixed at one end to the back l and which passes 'at its other end through an eye 23 provided upon the frame 5. A padlock 24 passes through a perforation in the end of the bar 22 and prevents accidental or intentional extending of the parts until the said padlock is removed. It is obvious that When the vertical sides oi the ease are extended that the curtains 20 will follow the said side or unwind from the rollers 19, inasmuch as the said Curtains are attached at their free ends to the frame 5. As the said curtains are Within the strips 9 they Will obscure from view the contents of the case;

This ease is intended especially to be used in sleeping car compartments, although it may be used to advantage in other places. All of the sides are preferably made oi sheet steel, and consequently when articles of value are placed with in the euse they :ne com parutiveiy safe against accidental loss or intentional pnrloin.

Having thus described the invention7 what, is chlnied is:-

A ense of the character' indicated connu-Laingl :t hach. vertical sides composed of strips pivotnlly connected together, top :1nd bottom sides composed ol sections hinged together, all of said sides being connected with snid hawk. a frame connected to the ontel' ends ot' .said sides. :ind :i door hinged to said frame.

In testimony whereof l have signed in v nume to this specification in the presence ot two snhsclihing tiles-ses.

JOHN l. CARROLL.

Witnesses 2 E. 1:1. BoDwnLr.,

WALTER B. InALs. 

